NORTH CAROLINA -- New legislation could soon give a fresh start to people with a past criminal record.

  • State senators discussed the Second Chance Act on Tuesday.
  • The legislation would make it easier for minors who have committed a low-level crime to wipe it from their record.
  • It would also make it easier to expunge certain misdemeanors and felonies from a record if the person has served their time.

State senators discussed the Second Chance Act on Tuesday.

The legislation would make it easier for minors who have committed a low-level crime to wipe it from their record.

It would also make it easier to expunge certain misdemeanors and felonies from a record if the person has served their time.

Advocates say the legislation would be life-changing.

"If we can give them hope to change, then they can become a success story as well and they can be a contributing member of society," said Jacksonville resident Janet Reed, who supports the measure.

A large group lobbied at the General Assembly Tuesday to urge legislators to support the measure.